ไข่
egg
A native Thai recording for this word is on the way. Please check back soon.
- 1 egg、ovum、roe
- 2 balls [slang]、testicles [slang]
This basic word centers on eggs, including eggs used as food and reproductive egg cells. As a verb, it means to lay eggs, and in casual slang it can also refer to a man's testicles.
egg、ovum、roe
An egg produced by an animal, or a female reproductive cell. In everyday food contexts, it usually means a chicken egg unless another animal is specified.
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ขอไข่ดาวเพิ่มสองฟอง khɔ̌ɔ khày daaw phə̂əm sɔ̌ɔŋ fɔɔŋ Can I have two more fried eggs, please? ขอไข่ดาวเพิ่มสองฟอง details
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แยกไข่แดงกับไข่ขาว yɛ̂ɛk khày dɛɛŋ kàp khày khǎaw Separate the yolk from the egg white. แยกไข่แดงกับไข่ขาว details
balls [slang]、testicles [slang]
Casual slang that compares a man's testicles to eggs. It is unsuitable for formal or medical contexts.
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โดนเตะไข่ doon tè khày He got kicked in the balls. โดนเตะไข่ details
Learning notes
Explanation
The central meaning of ไข่ is an egg produced by a living creature. When used by itself in a food context, it usually refers to a chicken egg. The animal can be specified after ไข่, as in ไข่ไก่ “chicken egg,” ไข่เป็ด “duck egg,” and ไข่ปลา “fish roe.” Eggs are normally counted with the classifier ฟอง: ไข่สามฟอง means “three eggs.” When buying a whole tray or pack, แผง can be used, as in ไข่หนึ่งแผง. ไข่ occurs in many common food names. ไข่ดาว is a fried egg, ไข่เจียว is a Thai-style omelet, and ไข่ต้ม is a boiled egg. ไข่แดง means “egg yolk,” while ไข่ขาว means “egg white.” For animals laying eggs, ออกไข่ is common with hens and similar animals. วางไข่ emphasizes depositing eggs in a place and is often used for turtles, insects, and other egg-laying creatures.
Usage
ไข่ is extremely common in conversations about meals, restaurant orders, grocery shopping, and cooking. It is also used for eggs, ova, and egg-laying in discussions of animals and biology. Its meaning “testicles” is limited to informal slang.
Caution
ไข่ดาว means “fried egg,” not literally “star egg,” and ไข่แดง means “yolk,” despite แดง normally meaning “red.” Although ไข่ can function as a verb by itself, learners will usually sound more natural using the established expressions ออกไข่ and วางไข่. When referring to testicles in medical, educational, or formal settings, use ลูกอัณฑะ or อัณฑะ instead.
Differences from similar words
2 balls [slang] synonyms
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ลูกอัณฑะ is the neutral anatomical term for a testicle. ไข่ is slang used in casual conversation and sounds much less formal.